She buries her face into the wide expanse of his chest, letting the now familiar smell of him calm her racing heart. With his arms holding her in place and head resting over hers, Julie feels like she might finally be able to breathe again.
Except it’s now or never and there’s no better time to ask than the present — especially one that involves both of them alive at the same time.
They’ve been toeing the line of will they won’t they for too long, and after everything they’ve gone through, Julie just wants to move forward.
Taking in a deep breath, she lets the question fall off her tongue.
“Willyougooutwithme?” Her words are muffled against his shirt, the rushed nature of her inquiry hindering her ability to articulate.
“Did you say something Julie?” she hears him ask, the vibrations in his chest from his words reverberating against her own.
Taking another deep breath, Julie pulls her head back just enough to look up and lock eyes with Luke. The soft look in his gaze only makes it easier for her to repeat her question.
“Will you go out with me?”
A bright smile morphs his tired features, stretching out wide until it’s all she can see. He moves his arms from around her, trailing his hands up her arms, fingers brushing against the sides of her neck until he’s cupping her face in the palms of his hands.
Julie leans into his touch, the warmth making her eyes flutter closed in delight at the feeling. Her eyes ease back open when she feels his thumb tracing the apple of her cheek, his gaze still soft, still on her.
“Yeah, I’d love to,” he tells her, voice quiet but laced with a certainty that only makes Julie want to fall right back into his chest and breathe him in once more. A smile appears on her face of its own accord, stretching wider when Luke’s smile matches hers.
They were going to be okay, and they were going to be together.
